Head of Brand and Communications

Career Guide
Leads brand strategy and organizational communications to shape reputation, drive awareness, and support growth. Oversees messaging, PR, content, and campaigns across channels, manages teams and budgets, and safeguards the brand during crises.

Key Responsibilities

  • Define brand strategy, positioning, and messaging architecture
  • Lead PR, media relations, and crisis communications
  • Oversee integrated brand campaigns across digital, social, and offline
  • Establish brand governance and identity guidelines
  • Develop executive and internal communications programs
  • Measure brand health and campaign performance; report KPIs
  • Manage budgets, agencies, and cross-functional teams
  • Guide employer brand and thought leadership initiatives

Career Progression

Can Lead To
VP of Marketing
Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Transition Opportunities
Brand Strategy Consultant
Product Marketing Director
Corporate Communications Director
Head of Customer Experience (CX)

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Crisis communications planning and responseAdvanced brand measurement and attributionIntegrated campaign orchestration across channelsBrand architecture and portfolio strategyExecutive counsel and board-level communications
Development SuggestionsLead or volunteer for a rebrand or crisis-simulation project to build applied experience, and complete a brand analytics course (plus Google Analytics) to strengthen measurement skills.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$115,000 - $145,000
Mid Level$145,000 - $185,000
Senior Level$185,000 - $250,000
Growth Trend
stable — steady demand across industries; digital and PR needs persist

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
AmazonNikeSalesforce
Industry Sectors
TechnologyConsumer Goods (CPG)Financial ServicesHealthcare

Recommended Next Steps

1
Earn APR or AMA PCM–Brand Management and complete Google Analytics Certification to validate expertise.
2
Build a portfolio by leading a cross-channel campaign or rebrand (even pro bono for a nonprofit or startup) and document KPIs and outcomes.
3
Join PRSA/AMA, attend local events, and set up informational interviews with CMOs/CCOs to learn playbooks and secure stretch projects.